Controlling mechanism for flying machines



R. E. MITTON CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR FLYING MACHINES Filed April 11, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. M, 1923. 11,464,852

R. E. MITTON CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR FLYING MACHINES Filed April 11, 1921 4 Sheets$heet 2 Aug. 14, 1923. v 1,464,852

R. E. MITTON CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR FLYING MACHINES Filed April 11, 1921 4 Shets-Sheet a R. E. MITTON CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR FLYING MACHINES Filed April 11., 192.1 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 %,/;LMW W 6% W O 3 q vide a control with which it would be t eater earner cranes.

nonnar n. matron, or snm LAKE crrr, urea, essrcnon 'ro rar'r'ron-nannnv aoranun court.- ea, or SALT LAKE may, or, a coaroanrrou or urns.

commune Mnonamsm' non rwm MACHINES.

Application filed. April 11, 1921. Serial No. 460,251.

To all whom it concern:

Be it known that I, Roam E. ON, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of- Utah, have invented certain new machine in any direction, in a modified manner, but when desirable, will make any correction necessary to maintain stability, unaided loy the ilot. I

Another object of this invention is to gl cult to place the flying machine far from its natural flying attitude, thus doing away with the hazardous stunts.

- Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specifications.

Fi re 1 is a side view of an aeroplane,

showing the invention in place with the control wires attached thereto.

Fig. 2, is a front view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a side view of my invention with the control wheel and wheel sleeve in section to show the locking levers.

Fig. 4, is a section on line M Fig. 3,

showing the grooves in which thelocking le-' vers fit.

Fig. 5, is a view ofthe invention looking from the pilots seat showing the control wheel and control lever and means for supporting same to. the frame.

Fig. 6, is a view on line 66 Fig. 3, looking from the pilots seat showing the-pendulum and means for supporting same in the frame.

Figi 7, is a view looking downon line 77 ig. 6 showing the construction of the swivel bearing 24 and 28 used on the control lever 22 and the pendulum 38.

Similar letters and parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

numerals refer to like- A denotes the frame, B the. plane, C the right aileron, D the left aileron, E the elevator, F the rudder, G the brace to which the invention is secured to the frame A, H the pilot -seat, ltthe right, Lthe left, 1 the control wheel having a sleeve 2, locking levers 3 and 5'- are fulcrumed in brackets 8 and 9 secured to the sleeve 2. Holes 10 are cut in the sleeve for receiving the ends 11 and 12 of the locking levers 3 and 5. A spring is secured under the handle of the locking levers for holding them secure within the holes 10. Notches 14: and 1 1- in the spokes ofthe control wheel 1 are to receive the spring 16' and 16 secured to the locking levers 3 and 5. When said springs are opposite said notche they. will spring within said notches and there remain until released by the pilot. When said springs are within said notches they hold the locking levers out of the hole 10 and the control becomes inoperative by the pendulum and can only be controlled by the pilot operating the control wheel, which he does in ascending and descending The locking lever 3 when locked in the hole 15 of the shaft 16 that is placed within the sleeve 2 allows the pilot to operate the control wheel to the right or left. The

locking lever5 when locked in the hole or notch 17 in the shaft 16 allows the pilot to move the invention backward or forward.

Secured to the bottom of the sleeve 2 are two hangers 18 and journaled therein is the shaft 19 of the swivel bearing 20. The swivel bearing 20 supports a ball 21 in such a manner that it will move freely with the movement of the invention. Through the ball 21 passes the upper end of the control lever 22 which moves up and down within said ball. Passing through the control lever 22 is a pivot pin 23. which is journaled in the pivot bearing 24. Extending from each side of the pivot hearing 24 are pivot shafts 25 which rests in bearings 26 secured to the side of the frame A and passing on through the side of the frame. To the outer ends of the pivot shaft 25 is secured lugs each having two horns 27 and 27 projecting therefrom to which are fastened the w res that operate the elevators E. A slot 28 is cut -1n the lower end of the control lever 22 so that it will fit over the bar 29, of the floor rod. The floor rod is composed of the bar 29 and de braces 30 that are hinged to the rod 31 which is supported by bearings 32 secured to the floor. The bolts 33 secured to the side braces are where the wires are fastened that control the operation of the ailerons.

The invention is secured to the frame by the bearings 34 secured to the brace G. The shaft 16 slides within the bearings 34. The yoke 35 secured to the shaft 16 supports the all 35' through which passes the upper end of the pendulum 36. Through the pendulum shaft 36 passes a pin shaft 37 having its end journaled in the swivel bearing 38 of the pendulum. The swivel bearing 38 having shafts 38 extending from its sides the ends of which are journaled in bearings 39 secured to the sides of the frame A. Dash pots 40 are 'swiveled to the pendulum 36 and are secured in bearings 41 extending through the side of the frame A. A spring can be used in place of the dash pots, or, a.

spring can be used in combination with the dash pots.

Fastened to the horn 27 is the wire 43 that raises the elevator E. The wire 44 fastened ner: Turn the control wheel 1 to the right,

.to ban raises pendulum 36 slightly to the left by means of the crank throw 34 in the wheel shaft 16, and moves control lever 22 held by hangers 18*attached' to sleeve 2 and rocks the floor rod 29 at the lower end of the control lever-to the ri ht thereby operating the control wire 53 to raise the right aileron C and depress the left aileron D, thus causing aeroplane to bank or lean to the right.

Turning control wheel to the left, raises pendulum slightly to the right by means of the crank throw 34 on the shaft .16 and moves control lever 22 held by connections attached to the sleeve 2 and rocks floor rods 29 at the lower end of the control lever to the left thereby operating control wires 53 and'54 to raise the left aileron and depress the rigit aileron, thus causing the aeroplane or lean to the left. 7 ,Pushing control wheel ahead raises endulum sli htly to the rear b means 0 the crank 34 in theshaft 16 an moves control lever 22 held by connections attached to the sleeve 2, turnsthe pivot shaft 23 on which control lever is mounted on a lateral axis.

thereby operating horns 27 attached to the ends of said pivot shaft in such a way as to draw on the wire 44 to depress the elevators which raise the tail and cause the aeroplane to descend.

Pull control lever back raises pendulum slightly to the front by means of the crank throw 34 on the wheel shaft and moves con. trol lever held by connections attached to the sleeve and turns pivot shaft 23 on which control lever is mounted on a lateral axis, thereby operating horns 27 attached to the ends of said ivot rod in such a way as to draw on wire 43 to raise the elevators which depress the tail and cause the aeroplane to climb or ascend.

When the control wheel is pushed forward and turned to the right simultaneously it accomplishes the result of the movement to the right and the movement forward, res ctively, at the same time. That is, it t rows pendulum in the left back corner. Tips control lever by the means of attachment to the sleeve 2, forward and to the right, rocks floor rod to the right and rocks elevator horns at the end of the pivot shaft 25 forward thereby depressing elevators, depressing left ailerons and raising right aileron, thus causing aeroplane to bank to the right nose down and descend'in a spiral to the right.

' When the wheel is pushed forward and turned to the left simultaneously it throws pendulum to the right back corner, tips control lever by means of attachment to sleeve 2 forward and to the left, rocks floor rod to .the left and rocks elevator horns at the end of the pivot shaft 25 forward thereby depressing elevators, depressing right ailerons and raising left aileron, thus causing aeroplane to bank to the left nose down and de scend in a spiral to the left.

When the wheel is pulled backward and turned to the right simultaneously it throws pendulum to the'deft front corner, tips control lever by means of attachment to sleeve 2 backward and to the right, rocks floor rod to the right and rocks elevator horns at the ends of the pivot shaft 25 backward thereby raising elevators, depressing left ailerons and raising right ailerons,thus causing aeroplane to bank to the right nose up and climb in a spiral to the right.

When the wheel is pulled backward and turned to the left simultaneously it throws pendulum to the right front corner, tips control lever "by means of attachment to the sleeve 2 to the left, rocks floor rod to theleft, and rocks elevator horns at the end of the pivot shaft backward, thereby, raising elevators, depressing right ailerons and raising left ailerons thus causing the aeroplane to bank to the left nose up and climb in a. spiral to the left.

It will be understood that the rudder operated by the feet by means of the rudder 'the above described movements which involve a turning movement about a vertical axis.

(Jontrol the'automatic operation of parts to maintain ship in a level position.

After h study of the drawings of this invention it will readily be seen that since it is possible to operate the pendulum as well as the controlling surfaces, whenever a movement is made by the hands with the control lever, the pendulum can react these movements as far as the correction of any disturbance of the balance of the aeroplane is concerned. Thus if an upward current of air should unexpectedly raise the right wing out of level position it will be seen the pendulum actuated by the force of gravity will not move with the ship but will remain straight downward. The ship tipping to the left would then automatically operate its wheel 1 to the right, since it is obvious that the pendulum would then be in a position to the left, and in so doing would operate its ailerons to return the machine to a level position, when alloontrols would be neutralized. It is stated above that the machine turns its own control wheel to the left under the aforesaid circumstances, this it does not literally do, but it accomplishes practically the same thing because the ship turns about the longitudinal axes of the machine leaving the wheel stationary, thereby operating the control more efliciently andexactly than if the wheel itself was turned to accomplish the same result. The opera: tion of the ailerons by means of the wheel is fully elained in the paragraphs on operation. hen the ship tips to the right or opv,posite to the above all movements and corrections for same are exactly opposite or vice'versa to the above.

- ving disposed of the lateral oscillations of an aeroplane in flight in this manner, we will now take the longitudinal disturbances. Thus if an upward current of air should strike the tail of the machine it would throw it nose down or in a position to descend, which it would immediately do.

tipping forward, it would leave the pendulum in exactly the same position as it would be in if the wheel was pulled back when the machine was level, or in other words it would be hanging forward, the wheel would In this 7 case i will be seen that'while the ship was oration would be opposite from the above in every detaill The single, lateral, and longitudinal move ment of the ship, taken separately, having been described, T will give an explanation of a more complicated,.combined, lateral and longitudinal movements and corrections.

Thusif an upward current of air should simultaneously raise the right wing and tail. out of a level "position, the ship tipping to the left and forward, would then automatically operate its wheel to the right and backward, since it is obvious that the pendulum would then-be in a position to the left and forward, and in so doing would operateits ailerons and elevators to return the machine to a level position, by means of attachment to the sleeve 2 which tips control lever backward and to the right, rocks floor rod to 'the right and rocks elevator horns on the ends of the pivot shaft backward, thereby, raising elevators, depressing left aileron and raising right aileron and causing the tail to be depressed, the right wing to be depressed a level position, the control working through the principles explainedab'ove. would auto,-

matically turn the wheel to the left and backward thus depressing the right aileron and raising the left aileron and raising the elevators causing the machine to turn to a level position.

llf a current of airshouldsimultaneously raise the right wing and depress the tail out of level position the control would automatically turn the wheel to the right and forward, thus depressing the left aileron and raising the right aileron and depressing the elevators causing the machine to return to level.

If a current of air should simultaneously raise the left wing and depress the tail out of a level position the control would automatically turn the wheel to the left and forward thusdepressing the right aileron and raising the left aileron and depressing the elevators, and causing the machine to return to a level position.

Having thus described my invention what be automatically thrown back, thus giving *1 claim as newand desire to secure by Letthe proper correction, since this movement, as-explained in the paragraphs on operatioh raises the elevators thereby depressing the tail to a level position, when all parts are neutralized because the pendulum is then in dead center. g

If the ship should strike a current of air that would tip it backward or nose up tlfeopters Patent, is:

l. A controlling mechanlsm for flying machines of thechar'acter described, comprising a control wheel and a pendulum for controlling said mechanism,said control wheel having a sleeve projecting therefrom, said sleeve having brackets thereon, locking levers supported by said brackets, a shaft within said sleeve, one of said locking levers for locking said sleeve to said shaft in such a manner that the pendulum will automatically operate the mechanism to the right or left, the other locking lever for locking said sleeve to said shaft in such a manner so the pendulum will automatically operate said mechanism backward or forward,- spring means for holding said locking levers in the locked position, notches in said control wheel for holding said locking levers;

in an unlocked position, and means for holding said locking levers within said notches..- 2. A controlling mechanism for flying ma chines of the character described, compris ing a control wheel and a pendulum for controlling said mechanism, said control wheel having a sleeve projecting therefrom, said sleeve having brackets thereon, locking levers supported by said brackets, a shaft within said sleeve, said locking levers for locking said sleeve to said shaft, so that the pilot can operate said shaft 10 turning said control wheel to the right or eft or moving it backward or forward, spring means for holding said locking levers in the unlocked position, said spring being attached to said locking levers, notches in said control wheel racists locking said control wheel from said shaft so the pilot can operate said wheel to the right, left, backward or forward to control the mechanism without the aid of the pendulum, bearings for supporting said shaft, cross brace for supporting said bearings, said cross brace being secured to the frame of the machine, a crank formed in said shaft having a hole therein, a bearing secured within said hole in which the upper end of the pendulum is placed, said pendulum operating said crank, a pivot pin passing through said pendulum having its ends journaled in the sides of a pivot bearing, the pivot bearing for supportlng said pendulum, said pivot bearing having shafts projecting therefrom, said shafts being journaled in bearings secured to the side of the frame of the flying machine, dash pots attached to said pendulum and to the side of the frame for receiving the shock of said pendulum.

4. ln a controlling mechanism for flying machines having ailerons and elevators, a shaft mounted for axial movement and also for rotation and having a crank, a pendulum connected to the crank of said shaft, a sleeve mounted for axial movement and also for rotation on said shaft and having a manually actuated operating means to lock said sleeve at will to said sha against axial movement, means to lock said sleeve at will to said shaft against rotative movement, and controlling means for said ailerons and ele vators actuated by said sleeve.

RQBERT E. MlTTUN. Witnesses:

M. L. CUMMINGS, J; E. Dnvmn'r.

till 

